Ammunition cartridge

ABSTRACT

A caseless ammunition cartridge having a completely combustible ignition system for providing improved propellant surface area breakup and ignition in larger caliber ammunition. The ignition system includes a base end plug secured in the rearward end of a propellant support tube which is surrounded by a cylindrical molded charge and has a projectile secured in its forward end. A molded propellant cylinder has one end seated in the base end plug and a propellant tube bonded to its inner surface. A primer assembly has with the propellant cylinder one end, a primer cup containing a primer pellet and a combustible primer seal. A booster assembly has within the other end of the propellant cylinder a booster cup containing an explosive charge and a booster seal.

United States Patent Quinlan et al.

[54] AMMUNITION CARTRIDGE [72] Inventors: Joseph B. Quinlan, Philadelphia, Pa.; Paul E. Williams, Elinton, Ill.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army [22] Filed: Feb. 19,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 12,659

{52] U.S. Cl. ..102/40, 102/DIG. l [51 1 Int. Cl ..F42b 5/18 [58] Field of Search... ..l02/38, 40, 43, DIG. l

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,345,945 10/1967 Quinlan et al. ..l02/38 3,482,516 12/1969 Farmer et a1. 102/38 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7,193 1891 Great Britain... 102/40 Feb.29, 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert F. Stahl Att0rney-Harry M. Saragovitz, Edward J. Kelly, Herbert Berl and S. Dubrotf [5 7] ABSTRACT A caseless ammunition cartridge having a completely combustible ignition system for providing improved propellant surface area breakup and ignition in larger caliber ammunition. The ignition system includes a base end plug secured in 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDFEB29 m2 2,645,206

IN VENTOR, JOSEPH B. QUINLAN PAUL E. WILLIAMS wwnzw ATTORNEYS AMMUNITION CARTRIDGE The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

The invention is related to ammunition cartridges, and more particularly to relatively large caliber caseless ammunition cartridges.

It is an object of the invention to provide large caliber caseless ammunition cartridge having improved propellant surface area breakup and ignition.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a cartridge having a minimum of weight and volume.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ammunition round embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the ignition system in the ammunition round of FIG. 1.

The caseless ammunition cartridge, shown generally at 10 (FIG. 1), includes a substantially cylindrical molded charge 11 surrounding a propellant support tube 12. A projectile 13 is secured in the forward end of the support tube 12. The molded charge 1 1, preferably a single base propellant, is made of explosive powder that is mixed with a binder and pressed in a mold to conform with predetermined gun chamber specifications that may be applicable for larger caliber (20 to 30 mm.) caseless ammunition. The support tube 12 is a 4 to ply tube of 0.004 in. sheet nitrocellulose propellant that, when placed inside the molded cylinder 11, provides strength and support to the cartridge, as well as additional charge weight and faster burning characteristics for the cartridge.

Secured in the rearward end of the support tube 12 is a base end plug 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of a completely combustible ignition system. A molded single base composition propellant cylinder 15 has its rearward end seated in the base end plug l4 and a propellant tube 16 bonded to a substantial portion of its inner surface. The plug 14 is of a single base propellant composition and propellant tube 16 preferably is a spirally, convoluted wrapped or extruded double base propellant composition. A primer (percussion) assembly includes a primer cup 17, of single base propellant composition, which is seated within the propellant cylinder rearward end and in abutment with one end of the propellant tube 16. Primer cup I7 contains a primer pellet 18 which is secured in the cup 17 by a combustible primer seal 19. A booster assembly includes a booster cup 20, a fast burning single base propellant, which is seated in the propellant cylinder forward end and in abutment with the other end of propellant tube 16. Booster cup 20 contains an explosive charge 21 that is secured in the cup 20 by a booster seal 22 which is made from a suitable fast burning propellant.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a caseless ammunition cartridge having a substantially cylindrical molded charge surrounding a propellant support tube and a projectile secured in a forward end of said support tube,

a completely combustible ignition system secured in a rearward end of said support tube,

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said booster assembly includes a booster cup containing an explosive charge and a booster seal.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said booster cup is a fast-buming single base propellant.

4. The structure of claim I wherein each of said propellant cylinder, base end plug and primer cup are single base propellants and said propellant tube is a double base propellant.

Patent N 3,545,205 Dated February 29, 1972 Joseph B. Quinlan and Paul B. Williams It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1 should read as follows:

1. In a caseless ammunition cartridge having a substantially cylindrical molded charge surrounding a propellant support tube and a projectile secured in a forward end of said support tube,

a completely combustible ignition system secured in a rearward end of said support tube, said ignition system including a base end plug secured in said support tube rearward end, a molded propellant cylinder having one end seated in said base end plug, a propellant tube bonded to an inner surface portion of said propellant cylinder, a primer cup within said propellant cylinder one end and containing a primer pellet and combustible primer seal,

and a booster assembly within the other end of said propellant cylinder.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of April 1971 (SEAL) attest:

EDWARD M aFLETGI LER,,JR, C MARSHALL DANN Atte sting Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM PO-I 050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I969 0-368-334,

Patent N 3, Dated February 29, 1972 lnventofls) Joseph B. Quinlan and Paul E. Williams It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1 should read as follows:

1. In a caseless ammunition cartridge having a substantially cylindrical molded charge surrounding a propellant support tube and a projectile secured in a forward end of said support tube,

a completely combustible ignition system secured in a rearward end of. said support tube, said ignition system including a base end plug secured in said support tube rearward end, a molded propellant cylinder having one end seated in said base end plug, a propellant tube bonded to an inner surface portion of said propellant cylinder, a primer cup withinsaid propellant cylinder one end and containing a primer pellet and combustible primer seal,

and a booster assembly within the other end of said propellant cylinder.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of April 197b,.

(SEAL) Attost:

EDWARD M.,FLETCPER,JR. C I-TARSHALL DANN Atte sting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM po'wso USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENY PRINTING OFFICE 2 I969 0-366-33L 

1. In a caseless ammunition cartridge having a substantially cylindrical molded charge surrounding a propellant support tube and a projectile secured in a forward end of said support tube, a completely combustible ignition system secured in a rearward end of said support tube,
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said booster assembly includes a booster cup containing an explosive charge and a booster seal.
 3. The structure of claim 2 in which said booster cup is a fast-burning single base propellant.
 4. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said propellant cylinder, base end plug and primer cup are single base propellants and said propellant tube is a double base propellant. 